Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Guest Post

First of all...we apologize for our podcasting hiatus, but as we've previously shared, we've been spending what is normally our podcasting time to co-write a book that should be published this August. We promise to have a podcast soon, but for now, we have to share with you this guest post from one of our listeners...
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I have the blessing (or curse, depending on your point of view) of living 25 miles from my school. That makes for a relatively long drive twice every day. Over the past 4 years I have grown accustomed to using this time for reflection. I turn off the radio and simply let the quiet envelop me. Recently though I decided to try something new and I found a educational leaders podcast called "Principalcast" on itunes. I downloaded a couple of episodes and listened. I didn't make it through a single broadcast before I was hooked. I began looking forward to listening each afternoon. The hosts, Jessica Johnson (@PrincipalJ), Theresa Stager (@PrincipalStager), and Spike Cook (@DrSpikeCook) made me laugh and nod my head as they discussed the highlights of their weeks and discussed key topics we all face. (You can catch them on principalpln.com or @principalpln now.) As I listened it became clear to me that there was something missing in my personal professional development. I needed to have a way of expressing the excitement and enthusiasm I feel for education, without apology, to a group of educators who have a similar drive. Thank you Jessica, Theresa and Spike for reminding me that there is a whole world of people like me who want to connect and discuss the passion we feel for educating our students.

So I am slowly branching out into the world of connected educators. My first trip has taken me into the world of Twitter. Yes, I am a little ashamed to say that I was never more than a periodic lurker on Twitter until this past weekend. Last night however I joined my first "Twitter Chat" at #APChat and it was amazing. Those of you who get as excited as me about talking shop with others will understand. Even though we were all over the country, I felt like I was connecting. I was able to see what other people thought about instructional leadership and express my own views (I even got a few "favorites" to my ideas). When it was over I was hyped up like a girl home from a first date. I found myself wanting to go again.

Now I stand on the edge of the connected educators' world, the lonely forest of "going italone" behind me and the expansive view of a marvelous new adventure ahead. And so it begins.... -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank YOU Patricia for such a humbling post. It's feedback like this that reminds us of why we started this podcast and that we need to get back at it!